ANDMON 10 Miles Solar Electric Fence Charger with Day/Night Mode, 0.11J Portable Solar Fence Charger with Rechargeable Solar Panel for 24-Hour Uninterrupted Protection Electric Fence Energizer

What it is and where it fits

I’ve been using the ANDMON MINI160 solar fence charger on a small rotational grazing setup and a couple of garden test runs. It’s a compact, 0.11‑joule, self-contained unit with a built‑in solar panel and GEL battery, designed to energize short runs of wire or tape—think strip grazing, small paddocks, temporary cross-fencing, or quick containment where AC power isn’t practical. My unit is labeled for up to 2 miles of fence under ideal conditions, which is a realistic pairing with its 0.11J rating.

If your needs are modest and portability matters, this charger hits a sweet spot. If you’re trying to enforce respect from stubborn wildlife over long, weedy runs, you’ll want more joules. That’s the context I kept in mind throughout my use.

Setup and first power-up

The MINI160 arrives with the internal battery disconnected for safety. You need to open the rear cover and connect the red lead to + and the black to −. The battery compartment is snug; I had to be deliberate about routing wires so the cover seated properly. After connecting, I set it in full sun. It took most of a bright day to reach a steady-state charge, after which the unit maintained itself via the panel.

The included T‑post mount is clever: you can rotate the charger 360° to face the sun. On a typical T‑post, the head mounting is quick, though I ended up snugging it down with a secondary strap to keep the unit from wobbling in high winds. If you plan to park it in one place, mounting to a wood post feels more secure.

A note on leads: the unit ships with basic alligator-clip pigtails for fence and ground. They work, but they’re light-duty. I replaced mine with heavier-gauge, UV-stable leads and ring terminals for a more reliable, weatherproof connection. It’s a small upgrade that pays off in fewer headaches.

Controls and usability

All the business—the power switch, mode selector, and status indicator—is on the rear of the housing. That keeps the controls protected and out of direct weather, but it does mean you’ll walk around the unit to verify the pulse light. With the T‑post rotation, I could swing the charger briefly to check status, then swing it back to face the sun.

There’s a day/night mode switch that adjusts the pulsing behavior to balance battery life and deterrence. I left it in “day” during rotational grazing and switched to “night” when I was trying to discourage nocturnal nibbling in the garden. The changes aren’t dramatic, but over multiple cloudy days I noticed better charge retention when using the mode appropriately.

Performance on fence

On a short perimeter of three strands of polywire (about 0.7 miles total conductor length), with a properly driven ground rod, I saw open-circuit voltages around 7–8 kV and loaded voltages typically between 5–6.5 kV depending on weed pressure and moisture. That’s where a 0.11J unit should land. The pulse is sharp and unmistakable—livestock that already respect a fence get the message quickly.

For cattle and horses in controlled, low-vegetation conditions, the MINI160 kept a consistent bite. It also handled a mixed run where I had both 17‑gauge steel and half‑inch poly tape, though heavier tape and longer runs do chew into the voltage.

As a wildlife deterrent for a vegetable plot, results were mixed. On a double-strand perimeter about 30 feet by 60 feet, voltage stayed above 5 kV, but deer pressure didn’t consistently relent. That’s not surprising: deer often require more joule output and multi-layer, baited, or offset designs to be reliable. If your primary goal is deterring deer across even short fences, plan on a higher‑joule energizer or a dedicated deer-specific fence design.

Battery, solar, and low-light behavior

The integrated GEL battery and panel are the heart of this unit. After an initial full day in the sun, I ran the charger through a week of overcast weather while powering my small paddock. The status light indicated strong pulses and I didn’t see meaningful sag. Over a longer run—nearly a month of on‑and‑off autumn sun—the unit stayed online without needing a top-off from an external charger.

Battery management is conservative for the output class. The day/night modes help, and the charger never failed to recover after cloudy stretches once the sun reappeared. If you’re in deep shade or consistently poor solar, you’ll push the limits of any mini solar energizer; here the 360° mount helps a lot because you can fine-tune panel orientation in shoulder seasons.

Build quality and weather handling

The housing is rigid and sealed well enough to handle rain and dust without complaint. After storms and a few days of persistent mist, there were no moisture issues. The hinge and latch for the battery cover are basic but adequate; make sure the gasket is clean before closing.

I appreciate the compact footprint: it’s easy to grab, relocate, and re-mount—perfect for strip grazing where you’re leapfrogging sections frequently. The tradeoff for portability is that everything is scaled: small panel, small battery, small joule output. Within that envelope, the MINI160 feels thoughtfully executed.

Grounding matters more than usual

With a 0.11J unit, grounding is the difference between “snappy” and “meh.” I used a 4‑foot galvanized ground rod driven into moist soil and kept connections tight and corrosion-free. If you can swing a longer rod or add a second in dry conditions, do it. Most voltage dips I saw were traceable to grounding and vegetation, not the charger itself.

Also, keep the fence clear. This class of energizer is less forgiving of heavy weed load. A quick weekly trim with a line trimmer kept my readings above 6 kV.

What I liked

• Truly portable: compact, light, and quick to hang on a T‑post or screw onto a wood post.
• Sensible power for small runs: consistent 5–6.5 kV under load on short, clean fences.
• Battery and panel pairing: robust enough to ride out cloudy spells without babysitting.
• 360° T‑post rotation: easy to aim at the sun, which helps in shoulder seasons.
• Rear-facing controls: protected from weather and bumps.

What could be better

• Included clip leads: serviceable but flimsy. Upgrading to heavier-gauge, crimped or bolted connections improves reliability.
• Rear status visibility: you have to walk behind the unit or swivel it to see the pulse light.
• T‑post stability: it mounts fast, but on windy sites a wood post mount is sturdier.
• Limited punch for wildlife: at 0.11J, it’s not a universal deer solution. That’s a physics limitation more than a flaw, but it’s worth calling out.

Who it’s for

• Ideal: small paddocks, temporary cross-fencing, rotational/strip grazing, horse or cattle that already respect electric. Short runs of polywire or light tape in reasonably maintained lanes.
• Works with caveats: garden perimeters when paired with thoughtful fence design and minimal vegetation. Expect to monitor voltage and adjust.
• Not ideal: long permanent runs with heavy weed load, predator/deterrent setups requiring multi-joule output, or deer-only solutions where a higher joule rating and multi-strand spacing are essential.

Tips for getting the most out of it

• Use a proper ground rod and check connections monthly.
• Keep vegetation off the hot wire; even a light trim makes a big difference.
• Replace the stock clip leads with heavier-gauge, UV-stable leads and ring terminals.
• Orient the panel using the 360° mount and re-aim seasonally.
• Choose day/night modes to match activity and conserve battery during quiet hours.
• Always switch off before touching the fence. The pulse is sharp, even at 0.11J.

Recommendation

I recommend the ANDMON MINI160 for anyone who needs a portable, solar-powered energizer for short, well-maintained runs—especially for strip grazing and quick, temporary enclosures. It’s easy to deploy, sips power intelligently, and stays online through less-than-ideal weather. Its limitations are predictable: 0.11 joules won’t reliably handle long, weedy fences or serve as a universal wildlife deterrent. If your use case aligns with its strengths—compact, movable fencing with good grounding and vegetation control—it’s a dependable, set-and-go tool. If not, step up to a higher-joule unit and keep the MINI160 in mind as a dedicated portable for the light-duty jobs it handles so well.